Be Data Literate: The Data Literacy Skills Everyone Needs To Succeed

by Jordan Morrow

International Book Awards 2023 - Technology

In the fast moving world of the fourth industrial revolution not everyone needs to be a data scientist but everyone should be data literate, with the ability to read, analyze and communicate with data.

It is not enough for a business to have the best data if those using it don't understand the right questions to ask or how to use the information generated to make decisions. Be Data Literate is the essential guide to developing the curiosity, creativity and critical thinking necessary to make anyone data literate, without retraining as a data scientist or statistician.

With learnings to show development and real-world examples from industries implementing data literacy skills, this book explains how to confidently read and speak the 'language of data' in the modern business environment and everyday life. Be Data Literate is a practical guide to understanding the four levels of analytics, how to analyze data and the key steps to making smarter, data-informed decisions. Written by a founding pioneer and worldwide leading expert on data literacy, this book empowers professionals with the skills they need to succeed in the digital world.

Genres: Business, Artificial Intelligence, Nonfiction, Professional Development, Reference

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 30, 2021

Reviews

[Martine · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author writes like he is talking at a seminar. Sometimes it helps, sometimes not. A lot of redundancy that would make a live talk at the end of a two day seminar an enjoyable one to listen to, but if you want to get to the point quickly, it could be a bit too much. He presents a lot of lists, and combines these list, to give an overview of the topic. There were not so many practical hints and tips as I had hoped for, though some useful insights were given.

[Domnica · Rating 1 out of 5]

don’t recommend this to a technical individual or a data professional, but someone who wants to be introduced to data literacy could see benefits; however, there are other books published with a much better content on data literacy than this

[Christina Stathopoulos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Written by the Godfather of data literacy himself, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. After reviewing pre-published pieces of the book for Jordan, I've been SO looking forward to reading through the final product. I think this is a must-read for anyone wanting to implement a data strategy. It is filled with advice from an organizational sense but also what needs to be done at the individual level (the 3 C´s: Curiosity, Creativity, Critical Thinking). It is filled with nuggets of knowledge like the 4 levels of analytics, how to define data literacy and differentiate it from digital fluency, and how to avoid the most common roadblock - an unfit company culture. The key message is that "not everyone in the world needs to be a data scientist, but EVERYONE needs to be data literate," so you can use this book to guide you on your journey, especially for those just starting out.

[Nick Dyer · Rating 2 out of 5]

Could have been an email.

[☘Misericordia☘ ⚡ϟ⚡⛈⚡☁ ❇️❤❣ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Takeouts:
-> Data science/analysis levels we should all keep in mind:
descriptive,
diagnostic,
predictive,
prescriptive.
-> Some nice use cases.

[Laura Torrano · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite repetitive. I feel the message could have been easily conveyed in a much shorter book.
Useful to review basic concepts or to start from scratch in the world of data.

[J Kromrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this eARC.

Jordan Morrow’s Be Data Literate is an essential guide for anyone looking to navigate the data-driven world of the 21st century. This book is a comprehensive and accessible resource that demystifies data literacy, making it approachable for readers from all backgrounds.

In Be Data Literate, Morrow outlines the critical skills needed to understand, analyze, and communicate with data. The book is structured around the four levels of analytics—descriptive, diagnostic, predictive, and prescriptive—and provides practical steps for developing data literacy.

While the book is non-fiction, Morrow’s engaging writing style brings to life the stories of individuals and organizations that have successfully harnessed data literacy to drive innovation and make informed decisions. These case studies serve as both inspiration and practical examples of how data literacy can be applied in different contexts.

Morrow’s writing is clear, concise, and engaging. He has a knack for breaking down complex concepts into understandable terms without oversimplifying them. The book is filled with practical tips and actionable insights, making it a valuable resource for both beginners and those looking to deepen their understanding of data literacy.

Be Data Literate explores themes of empowerment, innovation, and the democratization of data. Morrow argues that data literacy is not just for data scientists but is a crucial skill for everyone in today’s digital age. The book highlights the transformative power of data literacy in driving better decision-making and fostering a data-driven culture within organizations.

Jordan Morrow has crafted a must-read guide for anyone looking to thrive in a data-centric world. Be Data Literate is not only informative but also inspiring, encouraging readers to embrace data literacy as a means to unlock new opportunities and drive meaningful change. Whether you’re a business professional, educator, or simply someone interested in understanding the power of data, this book is an invaluable resource.

[Jennifer Reid · Rating 2 out of 5]

Be Data Literate by Jordan Morrow provides a basic introduction to data literacy, recently updated in 2024 to include a chapter on AI. While the book aims to make the subject accessible, its overuse of rhetorical questions and repetitive structure detracts from clarity and engagement. The content feels overly simplistic, with many references pulled from dictionary definitions, indicating that this is more suited for beginners who may have never encountered the concept of data literacy.

Despite the book's emphasis on effective communication of data, the author's own presentation falls short. The data visualizations are uninspired, and the anecdotes often feel bloated, diluting the key points. Additionally, tediously repeating the same framework for each chapter with some long-drawn-out explanation to address the chapter topic became tiresome. I questioned whether I had inadvertently jumped back in the text and was re-reading earlier sections.

The key takeaway I got from this vaguely boiled down — to doing the right thing at the right time with the right people. This surface-level insight offered little depth beyond standard self-help advice like finding mentors and continuous learning. The book provides few practical insights for anyone with a background in data analytics. It could have been better suited to a series of blog posts for students curious about the general scope of data science and analytics. I wouldn’t recommend it to professionals looking for more than a cursory overview of data literacy.

[Dąbrówka Mocha · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are all living in digital world full of data. More and more data. Some of us feel in it more comfortable, some of us less. But the undeniable thing is that we cannot stop those changes. How to find ourselves in this world? How should we approach it? Especially if we are not fluent in statistics and analytics... We need to gain data literacy skills! And yes...it's not that complicated as we used to think.

From my perspective this is the book that should be read massively by all corporate managers, leaders and finally 'normal employees'. How to not even survive but find your own way in the modern data-world.

[Mae of Scotland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher for a copy of Be Data Literate in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Be Data Literate is an essential guide for everyone in a our data-drive world. This book is an accessible read that breakdown data concepts and making it understandable for any readers from beginner to data specialist looking for a refresher. Clear and engaging writing breaks down the terms and is packed full of useful tips and insights to enable the reader to deepened their understanding of data literacy and how to make it applicable in their daily lives.

[Darya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Data literacy is very important today as the one who owns and understands data owns the business success. It takes a while to learn how to read data because all business decisions today are made based on analysis of data on customers, business trends, NPS, strategy. The skills is very important to have at all levels of the business.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this because now more than ever data is key and knowing how to read, analyze and use that data is key especially for someone like me who works with international and local organizations.
It was interesting to learn the difference between digital and data literacy.

Thanks Netgalley for the eARC.

[Lindsey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect primer into the world of data and analytics!

It was well written (easy to understand) guide and great way to learn the fundamentals, build a data literacy foundation, and also get me motivated about learning more. I loved the analogies and real world examples.

[Neregauzak]

2021/06/01

[Marlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this quite useful and applicable from a practical sense.

[miremnao · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another cheesy and boring book written for absolute newbies in the industry.

[David Poon · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic book introducing the concept of Data Literacy via the 4 types of data analytics:
1. Descriptive Analytics
2. Diagnostic Analytics
3. Predictive Analytics
4. Prescription Analytics

[Claudia · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basic read on data and analytics. Too repetitive for my liking, and I didn't get any value out of it.
I didn't finish it either, too slow

[Amelia V. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty interesting read. Easy to follow. Nice introduction to data literacy. I really enjoyed the storytelling and examples that were given. Really cool!

[Андрей Мущинкин · Rating 1 out of 5]

Абсолютно бессмысленная, бесполезная, не стоящая времени книга, сплошь состоит из самоповторов. Не понятно для какой аудитории эта книга предназначена

[Estefanía · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview but quiet repetitive and surfaced level

[Mona · Rating 3 out of 5]

Data literacy is essential and this book serves as a basic introduction for complete beginners to the topic, explaining fundamentals like the 3 Cs. However, its repetitiveness, seminar-like writing style, and tedious structure make it overly simplistic, especially those already familiar with data concepts. While updated for 2024 with AI content, that is such a fast-moving topic, that by the time it is published, the advice is already outdated. Overall it is a decent starting point for novices, but insufficient for professionals seeking actionable strategies.